Rembouer One

Chapter One FML

“Aggggg. “

As I hit the snooze button on my alarm clock, I realize it is Monday. I sit up and realize that my clock has been ringing for 2 hours now…..

“WHAT?! Not again…”

This is the 3^rd time in two weeks that I have been late to work. I have this horrible job that requires me to sit in a small cubicle and stare at a computer screen and proof-read mathematical articles. Sounds boring? This is because it is! I did VERY well in Physics and Math. So I became a Mathematician major in college. I hate reading other people’s work. I want to write a paper of my own and have some other college intern read my paper. But I don’t have enough time to devote to research. This job just barley keeps me in my apartment.

As I get ready to go to work I have to look myself in the mirror and realize that my life is not where I feel conferrable. I hate my 9-5 routine.

As I walk into my division area I notice that everyone is acting very unusual. They are all staring at me as if I just committed a crime and I am about to get caught.

I was just late to work, I wanted to say. No big deal. Well just as I thought that I saw two men standing at my cubical as if they were waiting for me. The men looked like body guards, tall, strong, and very serious looks on their faces. What could they want? I am no one. I did not do anything. For some strange reason I am still walking to my cube. STOP, I thought. My legs would not listen to me. After a long walk to my cube I see my boss, Jeff, sitting in my chair looking very nervous. In fact, I have never seen him so nervous before. I guess the body guards would have that affect on anyone. Jeff stands up when he sees me coming and sighs of relief.

“Here he is.” Jeff said, as he pointed to me.

One of the guards turned to face me as I stop in front of him.

“Are you Timothy Kip?” Even his low but powerful voice was intimating.

“Yea” was all I managed to whisper out.

Has the other guard turns to look at my relieved boss, “We are going to need to borrow your office to speak with him privately.”

As I expected, Jeff did not have much of a choice and he knew it too.

“Right this way.” Jeff pointed as he walked out of my cube. As we followed, all sorts of thoughts began to emerge.

Could this be about someone’s paper? Did I mess up on one? These body guards were not the cheap ones. They looked more like presidential body guards and moved like what I have seen in movies and on the news. Statues until they need to move or talk.

“This will not take long” The tall black man said as we entered the office and pushed Jeff out.

“What is this about?” I said when the door shut.

“Sir, do you know anything about your biological parents”

Sir? Biological parents? Suddenly I was even more stunned than before. I have never giving much thought about my biological parents. They have, after all, abandoned me as an infant. My adoptive parents had filled the gap so much that I thought they were my biological parents until they told me on my 13^th birthday. My parents’ name was kept a secret from me. My foster parents knew but they were hiding it from me. I had no idea why, but I always thought one day I would know.

“no”

“Your parents died three days ago and we are here to execute their WILL.” The black man said with a powerful meaning.

“Their WILL? Do they own money or something? Why are you here?” I managed to stumble thru.

“Oh, no sir it is not like that.” He said with understanding of my reaction.

“You have just inherited all of the property and bank accounts of Mr. Rembouer, one of the wealthiest people in the world.”

I was stunned again. “Wealthiest?”

“Oh yes, sir. We are here to escort you to Canada to start transferring all their assets to you.”

Escort? Then I dawned on me. They were body guards, not for some Government official, but for me.

“When?”

“We have a jet waiting to take us to the island.”

Island? My parents owned an entire island?

“I am very busy at work this week. Maybe next month.”

What was I saying? I just had an island thrown at me and I say something stupid.

“Sir, with all due respect, I don’t think you will have to worry about working ever again.” He told me.

It was weird. I thought it was a dream. ‘Never worry about working again’…… it unreal.

“Sir if we are going we need to leave now.” The other body guard said.

“Ok. What do I need to bring?” I asked like I have never done this before. “I do not have a passport.”

Again something stupid.

“That will not be necessary, Sir. We do not have to worry about that.”

My heart finally caught on to what was going on. I just lost my biological parents and gained the ability to do anything I wanted. I could finally write my own papers. But Canada? I have never even thought about going to somewhere like that. Maybe I could just collect their stuff and come back here.

“This way sir.” The tall guard said.

“Aren’t you going to tell me your names?” I asked.

“My name is Jimmy and he is Charlie.”

“Jimmy and Charlie…..” I asked back sounding a little confused.

“What?” Charlie asked almost offended.

“Nothing. Just…umm…those names don’t sound that…” I was cut off before I could finish.

“intimating?” Jimmy said half laughing.

“Yea.”

“Well we only look serious when we want to be. Actually we were more friends to your father over the years instead of body guards. We just did not want an incident here so far from home.”

“Put your game face back on. We are not done yet.” Charlie said when he saw Jeff walk up to the door.

Jeff knocked once an opened the door just as Jimmy did.

“Everything ok?” It was obvious that he was just as scared as I was before I saw them laugh.

“Yes.” I said. “We are leaving.” I declared. As I looked back at Jimmy and Charlie I said “Now.”

They smiled at each other.

Chapter 2 Isle Accueil

Before I knew it I was wakening up on the jet…. my jet. One of my lawyers woke me to tell me we were getting close. There was an entire crew waiting for me when I got on to the plane. So many people I was never going to remember all their names. After I told all of them to give me a minute I just passed out.

When I cleared my eyes I looked at the window and did not recognize anything. We were flying above a lake or some small sea. That is when I was awe struck. An island the size of a small country appeared. It was rectangle in shape. Oh course it had a runway big enough for a 747. On the far side of the island was a town. It looked more like a collage campus, one large building with several smaller building surrounding it.

I asked the person sitting next to me, “What is the name of that town over there?” as I pointed out the window.

“That is Accueil. It means home in French. Your parents always had ironic names for things.”

“My parents named that town?”

“Your parents ARE the town. Were… I guess you are the town now.”

“If my parents had all of this why did they abandon me?” I asked him as I was still staring out the window.

“Your parents did NOT abandon you. Who told you that?”

“No one. I just thought that is what happened. My adoptive parents never told me what happened.”

“Your parents knew someone who was having trouble conceiving and offered to help. And the rest is history.”

“My parents helped people?”

“All the time. Everyone on this plane is not here because we are the best of the best… we were offered a chance to do what we love to do. We are ordinary people, working for an extraordinary family.”

Just as I was thinking about what he said when we landed. Everything happens so quickly now. I can’t keep up. One minute I am late to work the next I am in Canada taking over my parent’s estate; estate seems like too small of a word for the Rembouer belongings. It seems like my real parents were more like Kings of a small country than just a smart business man.

Just like my arrival at the jet there was a crew of more people waiting for me here. My God…. How many people did my parents hire? Everyone was nice and polite. There was a ton of people to meet. Everyone had a purpose. Head cooks, housekeepers, office clerks, layers, pilots, mechanics, mail men…. This place is a Town!

I tried to remember everyone’s name a purpose. But the names and faces just blurred together.

“Where are we walking to?” I asked Charlie. Charlie has never left my side cense we first met. Ever since we got in the air he has not acted so tough and intemding.

“We have a limo waiting for use that will take us to the law office. There are a couple of things that we need to take care of before we can rest tonight.”

“Like what?”

“Well it is not for me to say…”

I interrupted with “But what?”

“Well the only condition your parents had for you is that you change your last name to theirs.” Charlie said with relundice.

Change my last name…. I thought. Not that bad of a deal I guess.

“Tim Rembouer” I thought out loud.

“Sounds good.” Charlie said with a smile. I think Charlie and I are going to get along just fine.

This place looked just like a small town; store fronts, traffic lights and office buildings. It took us 5 minutes to get to the law office thro this place.

When I walked in there were more people to meet me. This time everyone was wearing suits and ties. The guy that was sitting next to me on the plane appeared next to me and held out his hand pointing me to an office.